The Editor,
Not far from where I live in Richmond is a big house. It is on a pie-shaped lot and has a large garden at the back. In short, it looks to me like a perfect family home as it was when we moved into the area.
It has been unoccupied for at least the last two years, although occasionally someone comes around to check in.
It grieves me to think of all the young families who would just love to have such a home to live in, could they afford it. But, there it sits empty with no other discernible function other than to provide a Canadian address for it's owners.
I have no doubt there are many such unoccupied homes in the Richmond area and, in these times when there is a critical shortage of family homes, it is nothing short of criminal that this is allowed to happen.
I think it is high time city hall took some action. Perhaps a doubling of property taxes would discourage this trend or at least add money to the city coffers for projects that benefit all residents.
Patrick Gannon, Sr. Richmond
